Whitebrook Wireworks Leat

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of a leat, an artificial water channel usually leading to a mill, dating to the 17th century. The leat streches for over a mile from the White Brook to supply water power to Whitebrook Wireworks. Whitebrook was established as an additional branch of the Tintern works, which began in 1566 and was the first in Britain. These were continued by the Society of Mineral and Battery Works and may have ceased operation about 1720. The leat is roughly 2m wide, with a cutting on the uphill side and a wall of large boulders on the downhill side.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of 17th century inductrial practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques. A leat may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.